clean

clean (or neat) as a new pin: seepin.

clean as a whistle

1 extremely clean or clear.

2 free of incriminating evidence.

a clean bill of health: seebill.

a clean sheet (or slate) an absence of existing restraints or commitments.

2003Guardian Given a clean slate and an impressive budget, I would love to programme a festival…that exposed audiences to completely new forms of music-making at their best and most diverse.

clean someone's clock

1 give someone a beating.

2 defeat or surpass someone decisively. North American informal

☞ Clock is used here in the slang sense of 'face'.

clean house eliminate corruption or inefficiency. North American

clean up your act behave in a more acceptable manner. informal

come clean be completely honest and frank. informal

have clean hands (or keep your hands clean) be uninvolved and blameless with regard to an immoral act.

keep a clean sheet (in a football match) prevent the opposing side from scoring.

keep your nose clean: seenose.

make a clean break remove yourself completely and finally from a situation or relationship.

make a clean breast of something (or of it) confess your mistakes or wrongdoings.

☞ In former times, many people believed that the breast or chest was where a person's conscience was located. The breast is still used metaphorically to represent the seat of the emotions.

make a clean sweep

1 remove all unwanted people or things ready to start afresh.

2 win all of a group of similar or related sporting competitions, events, or matches.

Mr Clean an honourable or incorruptible politician.

show someone a clean pair of heels: seeheel.

squeaky clean: seesqueaky.